Refrigerating system



4, 1932. c. MASTERMAN 1,881 208 REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Filed Aug. 21, 1929 6 J W M, 44$

P atented Oct. 4-, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE GYBIII AUIBYN MASTERM AN, F SURREY, ENGLAND, ASSIGlN'OIt TO THE GAS LIGHT & COKE COMPANY, OF WESTMINSTER, LONDON, ENGLAND REFRIGERATING SYSTEM Application filed August 21, %9, Serial K0. 387,377, and in. Great Britain'Septem'ber 1, 1928.

This invention relates to refrigerating systems. It involves the empl 'yment of the known type of refrigerating init in which cold is produced by the rapid evaporation of a liquid refrigerant, the vapour of which is absorbed by adsorbent or absorbing material. The liquid refrigerant is contained in an evaporating chamber and the adsorbent.

7 or absorbing material in a second chamber.

The two chambers are connected by aconduit and comprise a closed circuit for the vapour.

The action ofthe unit is intermittent, the.

vapour being alternately adsorbed or absorbed by the material in said second chamber and then driven out of said material again and back into the evaporatingchamber 'by the application of heat to the adsorbing or absorbing material. The vapour condenses on its way to or within the evaporating chamber. For the sake of brevity, the

- evaporating chamber will be referred to apparatus of theabove reversing adsorption type, a pair of adsorbers and in connection with each adsorber, a boiler for generating vapour for heating the adsorber, a conduit for said vapour communicating with the boiler and in heat interchange relation to the adsorbent material in the .adsorber, anda reservoir communicatingwith the conduit and arranged to receive condensed vapour from it'(or from a separate condenser situ- .ated between the conduit and the reservoir) and deliver it, when a predetermined quantityhas collected, to the boiler of the other adsorber.

- Each adsorber in the arrangement speci-.

fied in the preceding paragraph, mayhave 'its own evaporator, the two" evaporators forming with their respective adsorbers separate closed circuits for the refrigerant va our.

ccording to a feature of the invention, the evaporators may communicate with the adsorbers by way of vapour conduits located adjacent one another and in heat interchange relationship, Similarly, the evaporators maybe located adjacent to one another and in heat interchange relationship.

According to a further feature, the reservoirs are arranged to siphonfeed the boilers.

Preferably, in the arrangement aforesaid in which the reservoirs siphon-feed the boilers, the reservoirs deliver to auxiliary reservoirs which deliver in turn to the boilers, the rate of siphon-feed to the auxiliary reservoirs being such in relation to the normal rate of rise of liquid level in the reservoir, that the latter will empty faster than it fills. By this meansit is possible to provide a certain latitude for lack of symmetry as between the two units of the apparatus. In the case where the reservoirs siphon-feed the boilers directly, considerable precision and care have to be exercised in the proportioning and construction of the two units, as it has to be ensured that make-of-siphon in one unit will coincide exactly with break-of-siphon in the opposite unit; otherwise a condition of perpetually dual-boiling tends to set up, that is to say, continual boiling in both units simultaneously, and this, of course, completely inhibits the operation of the apparatus.

The liquid refrigerant may 'be anhydrous ammonia. According to a further feature :of the invention, however, it may be an organic solvent such as butane, trimethylamine I and the like. An advantageof the use of organic solvents is that it is possible to work the apparatus at a lower pressure than when ammonia is .therefrigerant. On the other hand, owing to latent heatconsiderations, a

greater quantity ofrefrigerant has to be em.-

ployed than in the case of ammonia. The accompanying drawing illustrates diagrammatically one form of the invention.

The apparatus comprises two exactly simi lar units, A, B, each comprising an adsorber packed with active charcoal, an evaporator containing anhydrous ammonia in liquid form, and a vapour conduit connecting the adsorber with the evaporator, so that the two are in hermetically sealed communication. .The adsorber, evaporator and conduit of unit A are marked 1, 2 and 3 respectively,-

and those ofi unit B 4, 5 and 6.

Each unit comprises, moreover, a boiler in the form of a spiral coil, for generating steam for heating the adsorbentmaterial within the adsorber and thereby driving out the adsorbed vapour back into the evaporator, a steam coil within the adsorber and communicating with the boiler and a reservoir for boiler watersituated beneath the adsorber of the opposite unit and receiving condensed water from the steam coil within that adsorber. The boiler, steam coil and reservoir of unit A are marked 7, 8 and 9 respectively and those of unit B 10,11 and 12.

The'reservoirs 9 and 12 are provided with siphon-feed outlets 13, 14. These outlets lead into auxiliary reservoirs 15, 16 which are connected respectively to the boiler coils 7 10 by conduits 17, 18. The reservoirs 15, 16 are of somewhat smaller dimensions than a the main reservoirs 9, 12. The reservoirs 9,

12 are interconnected by a pressure-equaliz such as the flame 20, common to both boilers,

' heating means.

each boiler may have its own independent The action of the apparatus is as follows. While the ammonia in evaporator 5 is being vaporized and the vapour therefrom is being adsorbed in the adsorber 4, adsorber 1 has heat imparted to it from steam condensing within the steam coil .8, and the ammonia vapour being driven out fromv adsorber 1 is passing back to evaporator-2 where it recollects in liquid form. On its way to evaporator 2 the vapour passes through the vertical portion 21 of the conduit3, and in this portion of the conduit it is cooled and its condensation/is promoted. As soon as the adsorbent materialinadsorber 4 has become saturated with. ammonia vapour, the action of-the apparatus is reversed and .adsorber 4 omes heatedand adsorber 1 commences to t e in vapour. The whole operation of the apparatus, including the reversal of'action,

, 1s automatic, the quantity of boiler-water in the two units, and the rate of heat trans ferred to it fromthe flame 20, being suitably proportionedaccordingly in relation to the speed of adsorption of the adsorbent material within the adsorbers.

The said portion 21 of the conduit; 3 is cooled by cooling water circulating in the cooling-coil 22 surrounding the portions 21 of'the conduits 3, 6. This cooling water, after circulating through the coil 22 passes to a second coil 23 surrounding adsorber 1. From this coil it passes on to a third coil 24 surrounding adsorber 4 and thence away.

The evaporators 2, 5 are, of course, located within the chamber 25 to be refrigerated, and the portions 21 of the conduit 3, 6 are located outside of said chamber.

The saidportions 21 of the conduits 3, 6 are adjacent one another, as shown, so as to be in heat-interchange, relationship, and they are fitted internally with horizontal baflies 26 which serve further to promote condensation of the vapour passing to the evaporators.

Instead of the cooling-water coil 22 the portions 21 of the conduits 3, 6, which, as will be appreciated, constitute condensers for the ammonia vapour, may be fitted exteriorly with air-cooling fins.

The cooling-water coils 23, 24 are for the purpose of cooling the adsorbers and thereby increasing the etficiency of the adsorbent material therein.

The steam pipes connecting the two boiler coils 7, 10 with the steam coils 8, 11 are preferably laggedto conserve the heat of the steam.

(It will be appreciated that-the siphons 13, 14 operate to empty the emptying reservoir faster than thefilling reservoir fills, and their dimensions are chosen accordingly.

Oneof-the reservoirs, say the reservoir 9, is. preferably provided with an additional outlet 27 leading to the auxiliary reservoir 15- andcontrolled by a stop cook 28. This additional. outlet 27 is to facilitate the operation of starting of the apparatus.

The closed system provided in each unit by the boiler coil, the steam coil and the reservoir-contains, in addition to water, an inert gassuchl-as nitrogen. The requisite quantities of water and gas are, of course, predetermined-by'trial to afford the automatic action, aforesaid, of the apparatus. It is obvious that, instead of water, any other suitable liquid may .be "employed in the heating system.

electrically, a. thermostatic control .switch providing automatic operation of the heating system. r

In order to ensure maximum efliciency of operation, care should be taken in the proportioning of the contents of the adsorbers. The thickness of charcoal or other adsorbent surrounding the heating -coil, that is to say, the thickness of charcoal between the heating .coil and the exterior walls ofthe adsorber.

If desired, the adsorbersmay be heated heat dissipation,

follows. During the heating phase of the cycle, a certain quantity of heat will be required charcoal from the central heating coil outwardly to the exterior wall of the adsorber, and during .Qthe cooling period which follows,.that is to say, the period during which ammonia is passing back into the adsorber, the same amount of heat will require'to be dissipated. The ammonia, however, coming over from the evaporator will first be adsorbed by the outer layer of charcoal, which will be the coolest layer, and adsorption will penetrate steadily inwards towards the heating coil. .The inverse, of course, takes place in the adsorbent-regenerating phase of the cycle, the ammonia becoming driven off first from the interior charcoal layers nearest the heating coil and the regenerating efl'ect The rate of progressing steadily outwards. adsorption will be largely controlled by the a large factor in which, later stages of the adsorption phase, is, of course, the conductivity and thickness of the charcoal layers. Too rapid dissipation of heat will lead to the completion of the adsorption phase before the heating period on the opposite side of the plant is completed and conversely too slow dissipatiorrgof heat will lead to incomplete adsorption and, in consequence, cooling effect in the refrigerating chamber.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerating apparatus of the reversing adsorption type, a pair of adsorbers especially in the and in connection with each adsorber, a boiler for generating vapour for heating the ad sorber, a conduit for said vapour communicating with the boiler and in heat-interchange relation to the adsorbent materialin the adsorber, a reservoir communicating with the conduit and arranged to receive condensed vapour from it and means communicating with the reservoir and with the boiler of the other adsorber and adapted when a predetermined quantity of vapour condensate has collected in the reservoir to deliver it to the last mentioned boiler.-

2. In a refrigerating apparatusof the reversing adsorption-type, a pair of adsorbers,

a corresponding pair of evaporators allocated respectively to the adsorbers, conduit means placing each adsorber into sealed communication with its'evap'orator and in connction with each adsorber, a boiler for gencrating vapour for heating the adsorber, a

conduit for said vapour communicating with the boiler and in heat-interchange relation to the adsorbent material in the adsorber, a reservoir communicating with the conduit and arranged to receive condensed-vapourfrom it and means communicating with the reservoir and with the boiler of the other adsorber and adapted when a'predetermined quantity of vapour condensate has collected-I to be transferred through the body of a reduction of v i in the reservoir to deliver it to the last mentioned boiler.

3. A refrigerating apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the evaporators are locatedadjacent to one another and in heat-interchange relationship. a

4. In a'rjefrigerating apparatus of the reversing adsorption type, a pair of adsorbers and in connection with each adsorber, a boiler for generating vapour for heating the adsorber, a conduit for said vapour communieating with the boiler and inheat-interch'ange relation to the adsorbentmaterial in the adsorber, a reservoir communicating with the conduit and arranged to receive condensed vapour from it and siphon means communicating with the reservoir and with the boiler of the other adsorber and adapted when a predetermined quantity of vapour condensate has collected in the reservoir to deliver it to the last mentioned boiler.

5. In a refrigerating apparatus of the reversing adsorption type, a pair of adsorbers and in connection with each adsorber, a boiler for generating vapour for heating the adsorber, a conduit for said vapour communicating with the boiler and in heat-inter change relation to the adsorbent material in the adsorber, a reservoir communicating with the conduit and arranged to receive condensed vapour from. it, a second reservoir .in communication with the boiler of the other adsorber and a siphon placing said second reservoir into siphon-feed communication with the first reservoir so that when apredetermined quantity of vapour condensate has collected in the first reservoir said quantity is delivered to the second reservoir and thereby tothe boiler of said other adsorber, the rate of siphon-feed being such in relation to the normal rate. of rise of liquid-level in the reservoir, that the reservoir will empty faster than it fills, for the purpose specified. 6. A refrigerating apparatus according to duits take the form of spiral tubes, the vapour from the boilers entering these tubes at the top and the condensate leaving them at the bottom. j

7 A refrigerating apparatus according to claim-1,wherein the boilers take the form of s iral pipe coils situated adjacent one anot er so as to be.heated by a single heating means common to them both.-

8. In refrigerating apparatus, a plurality of generators, means for heating said generators, and stationary means within said heating means for discontinuing the heating of one of said generators and starting the heating of a second of said generators.

9. Refrigerating apparatus including a plurality of generator-absorbers, a closed circuit containing a heating fluid for each generator-absorber, each closed circuit including a condensing portion in'heat exchange reclaim 1, wherein the adsorber-heating co'n- I lation with the generator-absorber, a liquid collecting portion, and a vaforizing portlon and siphon means for trans erring the liquid collected in said collecting portion of one of said circuits after a predetermined amount of liquid has collected in said liquid collecting portion.

In testimony whereof I have name to this specification.

CYRIL AUBYN MASTEIRMAN.

signed my 

